Shab E Barat 2018: An Ultimate Chance of Getting Rid of Your Sins

Shab e Barat 2018 will be observed on 12th May this year with due religious favor.

This night is known as Laylatul Bara’ah or Lailatun Nisfe min Sha’ban in the Arab countries, and in the Indian subcontinent and some other countries, it is known as Shab e Barat.

When is Shab e Barat in Islamic calendar? The holy Shab e Barat or Lailatun Nisfe min Sha’ban (Mid-Sha’ban) is the 15th night of the 8th month of Islamic calendar. It is one of the Islamic sacred nights.

Muslims around the world observe this night with prayer, Quran recitation and remembering Almighty Allah.

What is Shab e Barat?

“Shab” means night, it’s a Persian word, and “Barat” means salvation, it’s an Arabic-Persian word. So this night can be a great chance of getting rid of previous sins and start anew. It also means the night of fortune and forgiveness.

Other Names of Shab e Barat

Shab e Barat night has some other names. Those are

Night of Salvation or Forgiveness ليلة البراءة

Night of Prayer ليلة الدعاء

Night of Division, Fate and Fortune ليلة القِسمة

Night of Granting Prayer ليلة الإجابة

Blessed Night الليلة المباركة

Night of Intercession ليلة الشفاعة

The Night of Forgiveness and Release from Fire ليلة الغفران والعتق من النيران

Shab e Barat 2018 Celebration Date

When is Shab e Barat 2018? Mid-Sha’ban or Shab e Barat 2018 in USA, UK, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and in other middle east countries will begin on the evening of Monday, April 30 and end on the evening of Tuesday, May 1.

But Shab e Barat 2018 in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will be observed Friday night as Islamic calendar based on lunar cycles and moon rises in these regions after one day. That’s the reason why all the Islamic events and festivals have been observed and celebrated one day later in these countries.

In Muslim countries, there is a public holiday for the Shab e Barat.

Virtue and Significance of Lailatul Barat

It is considered that Lailatul Barat is one of the three most sacred night in Islam. It is the night of salvation. On this night, Allah forgives previous sins and decides the fate of all human beings for the next year.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there no one who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.”

-Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1388

Now we are going to discuss Shab e Barat according to Quran and Sunnah.

What Does Quran Say about Shab e Barat?

Well, Shab e Barat is not mentioned in Quran. Some people think the 3rd and 4th ayah or verses of Surah Ad-Dukhan is about Shab e Barat. In these two ayah Allah says, “Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. On that night is made distinct every precise matter.”

But they are completely wrong and not aware of Sahih Tafseer of Holy Quran. Ibn Kathir Rahimahullah (ابن كثير) said in this famous Tafseer book Tafseerul Quranil Kareem ( تفسير القرآن الكريم):

[Translation] Ibn Kathir said: The Almighty says about the great Quran that he revealed it on a blessed night, which is Laylat al-Qadr or the Night of Power, as the Almighty said: “Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree.” [Al-Qadr: 1] And that is the month of Ramadan as the Almighty said: “The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an.” (Al-Baqarah: 185)

What Sunnah says about Shab e Barat?

Is celebrating Shab e Barat Dida or innovation in the Deen and all the Hadiths about it Mawdu? Well, this question has been raised by renowned Islamic scholar Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani Rahimahullah.

He said the Hadith narrated by ‘Ali bin Abu Talib:“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there no one who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.” is Mawdu of Sanad (موضوع السند) in his book Silsalat al-Hadith ad-Da’ifa (سلسلة الأحاديث الضعيفة) Vol. 5, Page 154.

Most people got it wrong! He said the Sanad is Mawdu, he never said the Hadith is Mawdu. There is huge difference between these two terms. Any student of Hadith knows that.

But Ibn Majah wrote another Hadith on Lailatul Barat. Narrated from Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Allah looks down on the night of the middle of Sha’ban and forgives all His creation, apart from the idolater and the Mushahin.” Another chain from Abu Musa, from the Prophet (ﷺ) with similar wording.” Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani commented about this Hadith that it is a Sahih Hadith in his book Silsalat al-Hadith as-Sahiha (سلسلة الأحاديث الصحيحة)

“The condition of accepting a Daeef Hadith and working according to that is (1) The hadeeth in the virtues of deeds should not be too weak, (2) To enter under a general origin, and (3) The act is not considered as a Sunnah.”

How to Celebrate Shab e Barat according to Quran and Sunnah?

You should remember there is no specific form of Ibadah or act of worship prescribed for this night. How Shab e Barat in Pakistan India, Bangladesh and Iran is been celebrated is not proved by Hadith and Sunnah. Let’s see what Hadiths say.

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there no one who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.”

“I could not find the Messenger of Allah one night. So I left and found him at Al-Baqi. He said: ‘Did you fear that you had been wronged by Allah and His Messenger?’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I thought that you had gone to one of your wives.’ So he said: ‘Indeed Allah, Mighty and Sublime is He, descends to the lowest Heavens during the night of the middle of Sha’ban, to grant forgiveness to more than the number of hairs on the sheep of (Banu) Kalb.”

-Jami at-Tirmidhi: Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 739

I am not going to mention so many Hadiths to tell you what you should do and what you should do on this night as I think these two Hadiths are self-explanatory. Let’s make things a little bit clear and make a list of “Shab e Barat ki Ibadat & Amal”.

How to Spend Shab e Barat?

Perform Nafl or voluntary act of worship as much as possible.

Perform Nafl or voluntary Salah with longer Qiyam and Sujud.

Seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah.

Recite the Holy Quran.

Read Dhikr (remembering Allah).

Read Durood (send blessings upon the Prophet SWS).

You can fast the next day. But remember it’s not proved by Sahih Hadith.

What Shouldn’t Do on Shab e Barat?

Don’t engage in any form of Bidah.

Don’t decorate houses and streets with lights and flower.

Don’t cook sweets, halwa, biryani etc.

Don’t make gathering of friends and family members.

Don’t spend hours gossiping and visiting your neighbors.

Don’t make gathering at the mosque. Rather worship at home.

Don’t fast the next day considering it Sunnah. It’ll be just a Nafl fasting.

Shab e Barat 2018 in India

Shab e Barat 2018 in India will be celebrated on 12th May this year with great enthusiasm and act of worship by country’s 14.2% of the population or 172 million Muslims. It is one of the three nights that has been celebrating in India for hundreds of years.

People get ready for this special night from the first moon sighting of the 8th Islamic calendar month Shaban. On this night, people perform Nafl or voluntary salah with longer Qiyam and Sujud, gather in mosques to listen to Islamic bayan, women make sweet, halwa and biryani at home.

Rich Muslims take Shab e Barat as an opportunity to feed poor people and help with cash money. We hope rich Muslims will also be generous on Shab e Barat 2018 in India as well as in other regions.

But the saddest thing about Shab e Barat 2018 in India is that some people will get engaged in Bidah. Bidah is the act that is not permitted by Islam, but some people think it is. Please stay away from any kind of Bidah, otherwise, it will destroy all of your Aamal.

It’s will be the best idea if we try to spend Shab e Barat 2018 according to Hadith and Sunnah. Our every deed should be exactly how Rasulullah SWS perform it. Let’s have a look at how Rasulullah SAWS Shab e Barat or Lailatul Barat.

We have mentioned above that it was narrated that Ali bin Abu Talib radiallahu anhu said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there no one who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.” -Sunan Ibn Majah: Book 5, Hadith 1451

Subhanallah! I was supposed to write 11 Hadiths. But I am going to as I think this Hadith alone is enough to show us how we should spend Shab e Barat 2018. If you still need a detailed guide how you can spend Shab e Barat 2018 and utilize the chance of getting rid of your sins, please read the full article.

May Allah give us the ability to distinguish Sunnah and Bidah and spend Shab e Barat 2018 according to Sunnah. Ameen.

Summing Up

Shab e Barat 2018 can be a life-changing night of your life if you spend it according to Hadith and Sunnah. It can be a great chance of getting rid of previous sins and start anew as we have mentioned above that Shab e Barat is one of three most sacred nights and, on this night, Allah decides the fate of all human beings for the next year.

I urge you not to get engaged in any Bidah and destroy the opportunity. Always remember your Aamal will only be granted if you perform it obeying the commands of Allah and the teachings of the Prophet SAWS.

May Allah give us all the ability to take this opportunity and utilize it to grant forgiveness from Him. Ameen.